The urban legend about smoking banana peels gave rise to the term bananadine. According to Wikipedia, “bananadine is a fictional psychoactive substance which is allegedly extracted from banana peels.”The hit single “Mellow Yellow” was released a few months before the recipe of bananadine extraction was published in an underground newspaper called Berkeley Barb. People assumed that the single was pertaining to smoking banana peels. In March 1967, Berkeley Barb’s founder and editor, Max Scherr, printed a satirical story claiming that bananadine induced a psychedelic high similar to opium and psilocybin. It was perpetuated after publication in The Anarchist Cookbook by William Powell. Because of the hit single and various publications, the hoax was believed!

Later on, a New York Times article on illicit drugs noted in passing that “banana scrapings, provide- if anything-a mild psychedelic experience.” This prompted the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to conduct a serious investigation. The FDA concluded that banana peels are not psychedelic. In support of this, a study by researchers at New York University found that banana peels do not contain intoxicating chemicals. They reiterated that smoking banana peels only produced a placebo effect, meaning the psychedelic high is merely the person’s perception of how it works.

Even if smoking banana peels has been classified as fictional and an urban legend, a search in the Internet showed contrasting views. Some posted the recipe and promised that it really gets someone high. Others still believe that it is a myth. Why bother with trying it out if studies already showed it to be untrue? Smoking, in itself is already hazardous to your health. Smoking to get high? Even more so! Instead of trying out other things to smoke, read on the health risks of smoking. Quitting is the best choice. Quit now before it is too late!

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